Centrifugal separation.



T. E. BROWN.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16. 1915., 1,159,741.

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T. E. BROWN.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. I9I5.

Patented'Nov. 9, 1915.

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T. E. BROWN.

cENRlFUGAL sEPAHAT|oNv. APPLICATION FILED APR. '5| 1915..

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Iliana. l n' Patented Nov; 9,1915.

THOMAS E. BROWN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 16, 1915. Serial No. 21,726.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BROWN, a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separation, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates to improvements in the art of centrifugal separation, as well in the process as in the apparatus, and applies particularly to the centrifugal separation of solids andliquids and to the apparatus used for the said separation of solids from liquids, as in the filtration and decantation of precipitates in chemical processes, the separation of valuable liquids from the pulp in metallurgical processes and the clarication of liquids in general; and the object of my invention is to enable the steps in such processes, such as filtration or decantation, drying and washing, and the final discharge ofthe concentrates, to be performedwhile the machine remains in continuous revolution, thereby avoiding the wear and tear, loss of power and waste of time incident to the continualstarting and stopping of the machine usual in ordinary practice; and another object of my invention is to perform the steps automatically in proper succession at suitable intervals of time. I effect these objects by separating vessels, which are rotatable about a general axis and are also adapted to be turned or reversed' in position relatively to the general axis and independently of the general rotation; said vessels being maintained in position to retain the solids' during separation, and being turned or reversed in position to permit said solids to be discharged by centrifugal .force after separation. I prefer to use means actuated by fluid pressure to effect the turning or reversal cf said vessels, and to use automatic timing means to control the duration ofseparation and the time of discharge of the separated solids. But I may dispense with automatic timing means', and may use means vactuated by other agencies than Huid pressure to effect the turning or reversal of said vessels.

Var1ous forms of apparatus may be constructed embodying my invention and suited to various kinds of materials to be sepa'- rated, and various means may be employed to reverse or turn the separating vessels'and discharge their contents, and while I show the preferred forms and means in the accompanying drawings I do not confine myself to the specific forms and means shown and described.

Figure l is a broken vertical section of.

- Patented Nome, 1915.

shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section on line Y, Y, Fig. 1, showing a portion of the actuating piston of Fig. 1, and showing the arrangement of the passages-for' the actuating uid. Fig. 4 is a vertical section and elevation of a form of machine in which the separating vessels turn on axes parallel to the axis of rotation. Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, and Fig. 6 is a section on line Z, Z of Fig. 4, showing the actuating cylinder and pistons of the machine shown in Fig. 4.

In the aforesaid plan views, Figs. 2 and 5 respectively, four separating vessels are shown, and in the aforesaid vertical sections,

Figs. 1 and 4 respectively, but two are shown, two being removed from these figures for the sake of clearness. Any suitable number of separating vessels may be used, l

forming part of the upper cylinder head 6 of the cylinderv7; the lower head 8 of said cylinder being firmly attached to a main axle or spindle 9, so that said cylinder 7 and the vessels A, B, C and D revolve with 'said spindle 9. Said spindle 9 is made hollowy at its upper portion, to form a conductor for operating fluid. Said spindle 9 revolves in upper bearing 10, and lower bearing 11, and may be revolved in any suitable manner, as by belt 12 and pulley 13. The weight of the machine is carried on thrust bearing 14 supported in turn on the oscillating fra-me 2, which with the balls 3 and base plate 4 form a self-balancing device, more fullyA described and shown in my application, filed January 28, 1915, Serial Number I prefer to use a heavy fly-wheel to aid in steadying the motion of the machine, and for simplicity of construction make it integral with cylinder 7; this is conveniently done by making a portion of the 'periphery of said cylinder 7 heavy as shown in Fig. 1. Said fly-wheel not only steadies the motion of rotation, but also, by gyroscopic action, prevents rapid shifts ot' the center or' rotation by sudden changes of the position of the center of gravity during motion ot' the relatively movable parts.

In said cylinder 7 is piston 16, which is connected by means of the hollow sleeve 17 with the circular head 18, which rests on top of and holds down the rollers 19 which are attached to the said vessels A, B, C and D, respectively.

20 is a circular receiving vessel attached to and rotating with spindle 9 and provided with spouts 21, one for each of the vessels A, B, C and D. Said separating vessels are formed of sides 31 carried by said axles 1, and carrying between them a filtering material 22, preferably held between perforated plates 23. Badially outside of said filter 22 I place the shields 2l, which serve to lead the separated liquid which has passed through the filter down to a suitable point for discharge.

25 is -a pipe for the supply of the materials to be separated and 2G is a valve and 27 an electrically operated valve for the control of the supply of said materials. y

28 is a pipe for the supply of the operating fluid, which may be supplied under any suitable pressure, and 29 is a branch pipe for same.

30 is a valve, 33 and 34 are electric valves, and 35 and 36 are plug valves for the control of the supply of said operating fluid.

37 is a timing apparatus for controlling the durationv of separation and the time of discharge. The vessels A, B, C and D are purposely unbalanced about their respective axles 1, so that, under the influence of the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the machine, their tendency is to turn outwardly and lie in the discharging position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position any solids contained in said vessels will be discharged by centrifugal force.

In order to regulate the degree of unbalance of these vessels I thicken the upper part of the shield 24 to form Weights 32 as shown.

50 and 52 are annular troughs for the reception of the ejected liquids and solids, 'which surround the separating apparatus, but 'which are shown in section on one side only for the sakeof clcarness.

The operation is as follows: The machine having vbeen set in revolution by means of belt 12 and pulley 13 and having acquired its proper speed, the said ,vessels A, B, C and D being in the position shown by the dotted lines and the piston 16 being at top of the cylinder 7, operating fluid, preferably a liquid, is 'admitted through the pipe 28 and passes down' through the hollowspindle 9 and out through holes 3S into sleeve 17, thence through the cored passages 39 in piston 16 to the upper side of said piston. Said operating liquid above piston 16, by virtue or' the centrifugal force induced in it by the rapid rotation, forms a cylinder of liquid on top of said piston which by its centrifugal pressure forces said piston downwardly in said cylinder, and by means of the sleeve 17 and circular head 1S presses down on the rollers 19 and turns the vessels A, B, C and D radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation until said piston 1G reaches the lower end of its stroke, when the vessels are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and by the solid lines in Fig. 1, and are then in position to receive the materials to be separated. The pressure of the cylinder of liquid ontop oit said piston 16 is proportioned so as to hold the vessels, and the materials undergoing separation in said vessels, against the centrifugal forces. lVhen in this position the supply of operating liquid may be sluit otl" entirely, or, should there be any leakage through packing l0 otl piston 1G, enough operating liquid mav be continually admitted to supply said leakage. The machine being now ready to receive the materials to be separated. the valve 2li is opencd admitting materials from the pipe 25 which fall into the circular `vessel '20 and pass through the spouts 21 intothc separating vessels, the liquid passing through the filtering material 22 and perforated plates 23 on to the shields 24, whence it is thrown off by centrifugal torce and may be caught in any suitable manner as in trough 50. from whencey it may be carried by pipe 51 to any desired place. The separated solids accumulate on the surface of filter and this process continues until a sufficient amount of said solids is accumulated. Valve 26 is-then shut oit, stopping the supply oi' materials to be separated and, after a lapse of time suiiicient to properly dry the accumulated solids, the op- @rating liquid is again admitted from pipe 28 with such rapidity as to exceed the amount which can flow out through the leakage holes 41. The cylinder of liquid above the piston 16 then extends inwardly until it reaches the holes 42 which pass through said piston and communicate with the lower side of same. The liquid then flows through said holes 42, and as it lows through said holes faster than it can escape through the leakage holes 41, it gradually fills the space below said piston 16 until it balances the pressure of the cylinder of liquid above said piston so that said pressure" no longer balances the centrifugal forces of the vessels A, B, C and D. Said piston 16 therefore rises as said vessels turn over, the liquid above it passing below it through the holes 42, and said vessels turning on their axles 1 assume again the position shown by the dotted lines, and the contained solids are discharged by centrifugal force, and may be caught in any suitable manner, as by revolving trough 52, from whence they may be removed in any suitable manner as by scraper 53. The supply of operating liquid is then reduced to less than will flow through the leakage holes 41, and the liquid passing through the holes 42 being less than the flow out through the holes 41 the cylinder 7 below piston 16 is gradually emptied, the cylinder of liquid above piston 16 gradually forms, said piston 16 descends, the said vessels are returned to their normal position, valve 26 is again opened, admitting further supply of materials to be separated, and the process proceeds over again.

The description as heretofore given refers to hand manipulation of the valves for the supply of the materials to be separated and the operating liquid, and said hand Imanipulation is desirable in order to determine `the proper duration of separation and proper intervals of time between the successive discharges of the separated solids.

After the proper duration of separation and proper interval between discharges has been determined the process may go on automatically by means of the timing shaft 37 and electric valves 27, 33 and 34. For this purpose plug cock 35 is set to allow of a flow of operating liquid slightly less than will low out of leakage holes 41, and plug cock 36 is setto allow of a flow in excess of the amount that will flow through leakage holes 41. Electric valves 27 23 and 34 are arranged to be operated by solenoids and to be normally held closed by the weight of the solenoid cores and to be opened when passage of electric current lifts said solenoid cores. The timing shaft 37 is caused 4to rotate at a uniform speed in any suitable rnanner, as by clock work, gearing or beltmg, onpreferably by gearing and a constant speed electric motor as shown and described in my application filed April 22nd, 1914, Serial No. 833,641. The apparatus is adjusted so that one complete revolution of shaft 37 takes Llace in the time required for one complete cycle of the process. On shaft 37 is secured the contact arm 43. On a suitable base of insulating material 44 are placed the contact plates 45, 46- and 47, which are connected by wires 54, 55 and 56 with the solenoids of valves 33, 27 and 34 respectively. Shaft 37 is connected by line wire .48 to a suitable supply of electric current and the solenoids ofjvalves 33, 27 and 34 are connected by wires 57, 58and 59 with the return wire 49 for said electric current. The arm 43 being in the position shown in the drawing and the vessels A, B, C and D being in discharge position, when arm 43 touches contact plate 45 circuit is made through the solenoid of valve 33, said valvel opens and admits operating fluid to the upper side of piston 16, the rate of flow being determined by the setting of plug cock 35, yand piston 16 descends bringing the vessels A, B, C and D into position for separation. The contact arm 43 then passes off of contact 45, valve 33 closes, and arm 43 comes in contact with plate 46, establishing circuit through the solenoid of. valve 27, and said valve 27 opens, admitting materials to be separated to the vessels A, B, C, and D. The supply of materials to be separated continues until arm 43 passes olf of contact plate 46 when valve 27 closes and the supply of material stops. After arm 43 has left contact 46 the solids retained in the separating vessels dry until arm 43 reaches contact 47 and establishes circuit through the solenoid of valve 34, when said valve opens-admitting operating fluid in excess of what will pass out of leakage hole 41, the space under piston 16 lills, the vessels A, B, C and D move outwardly and the separated solids are discharged by centrifugal force, all as hereinbefore described for manual operation. Shaft 37 continues to revolve until arm 43 again touches contact 45, when the process proceeds over again, and so on in continuous ordered succession, the time and duration of the' various steps being determined by the rateof revolution of the tim` ing shaft 37 and the position and length of the contacts 45, 46 and 47.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, A', B', C and D' are the separating vessels each supported on individual trunnions 60 which are set parallel to the spindle 9, which spindle may be rotated by meansof belt 12 and pulley 13 and is carried in the bearings 10 and 11 and supported on thrust bearing 14, frame 2,

balls 3 and base plate 4,- all as described for v Fig. 1. Attached to and rotating with said spindle 9 .is the cylinder 62 containing the pistons 66, which reciprocate circumferentially with relation to the spindle 9, lnstead of longitudinally therewith as in Fig. 1. Said pistons 66, of which there are preferably two, to effect a balance, though Va larger number may be used when desired, are attached to or may be integral with the hub 67 which is carried by cylinder 62, but is free to turn relatively to said splndle 9. Said hub 67 carries and has secured to itthe toothed wheel 68 so that said wheel 68 rotates with the pistons 66. Sald toothed wheel 68 meshes with toothed wheels 69 of which there is one for each vessel A', B', C and D', and said wheels 69 are each attached to its respective separating vessel so that said vessels turn with said gears 69, and therefore turn with the pistons 66. The vessels A', B, C', and D are supportedby lower trunnions 60 which are carried by bearings 65 in the cylinder cover 64 of cylinder 62 and are supported at their tops and turn on the journals 61 formed by the nozzles 63. The proportion of the gear wheels 68 and 69 is such that when the pistons 66 move through their arc of motion the vessels A', B', C' and D' are moved about a half turn around their trunnions, and their open sides which are normally nearest the spindle 9 are turned away from said spindle so that any materials contained in said vessels will he thrown out by centrifugal force. Radial partitions 71 (see Fig. 6) are placed in cylinder 62 to form abutments for the operating fluid acting on pistons 66, and in the bottom of cylinder 62 are cored the ports 72 and 73 which carry the operating fluid to each side of said partitions, and 74 and 75 are leakage holes for the exhaust of said fluid. The nozzles 63 of the receiving vessel 70 are carried outwardly and downwardly into the separating vessels so as to form upn per journals 61 as well as spouts for the delivery of the materials to be separated to said vessels. In this form of apparatus I prefer to balance each vessel with relation to its individual axis and use the Weights 76 to assist in this purpose, and I also prefer to make the periphery of cylinder 62 very heavy as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, so as to form a fly-wheel to aid in steadying the mo* tion of the machine, as described in connection with the machine shown in Fig. 1. The pipe 77 is for the supply of the materials to be separated, which supply is controlled by the regulating valve 78 and the hydraulically operated valve 79, and 102 is a pipe for the supply of liquid to Wash the separated solids collected on the filter 97, which supply is controlled by the regulating valve 103. and the hydraulically operated valve 101. 80 is a rotary valve provided with ports 81, 82, 83 and 84 connecting respectively With branch pipes 85, 86, 87 and 88 for the conveyance of the operating fluid, which is led under pressure to the center of said rotary valve 80 bythe pipe 89. The

pressure in the operating fluid may be ob-.

tained in any suitable manner as by an elevated tank, a pumpl or by pressure from the street water mains. The valve 80 may be of any of the well known forms suitable for the purpose and may be operated by hand or in any other suitable manner but I prefer the rotary form shown and to rotate said valve by means of worm gearing 90 and pulley 91 in such manner that said valve 80 will move at a uniform speed and make one complete revolution in the time of one complete cycle of' the apparatus.

The operation` isas follows: -T he apparatus being in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the regulating valves 78 and 103 and the plug cocks 92 and 93 having been previously set for proper rates of flow and 55 the valve 80 being in the position shown in Fig. 4, operating fluid, preferably a liquid is admitted by pipe to the underside of the piston 9i oi valve 79 in greater volume than will flow through the leakage hole 95 in cylinder 96, said piston 9i rises and opens valve 79 allowing the mixture to be separated to flow into receiving vessel 70 and through spouts 63 into the sepa rating vessels A', B', C' and D. The liquid separated from the mixture passes through the filters 97, is caught by the shields 98 and passes down and is thrown ofll from the bottom of said shields. and is carried away' in any suitable manner, as by troughs and pipes as shown in Fig. 1, and the sepa rated solids areretained on the filters 97. vWhen the port 99 in the valve 80 is rotated suliiciently to pass off the port 81 the supply of operating fluid to the cylinder 96 of the valve 79 is cut off, the liquid under piston 9-1 leaks out of leakage holes 95, is carried away by pipe 106, the weight of said piston 91 causes it to descend and close valve 79 and cut ofl` the supply of materials to be separated. The separated solids in the vessels A', B', C' and D' dry until the valve 80 connects with the port 82, and operating fluid is then admitted through pipe 86 to the operating cylinder 100 of valve 101, on the pipe 102 for the admission of wash liquid, the rate of flow of said liquid being controlled by the valve 103. The operation of said valve 101 is the same as described for valve 79 on pipe 77 for the supply of the materials to be separated. The supply of wash liquid continues until valve 80 passes off of port 82, when the separated solids again dry until valve 80 connects with port 83, the operating liquid is then admitted through pipe 87, passes down the annular space 104.- in spindle 9 and through the cored ports 72 in the bottom wall of cylinder 62 into said cylinder 62 in greater volume than will flow out through the leakage holes 71, and by reason of the centrifugal force due to the rapid rotation forms a segmentof a cylinder of liquid between each of said partitions 71 and the pistons 66, and presses on said pistons and rotates them and toothed wheel 68 relatively to said partitions, and turns the vessels A', B', C' and D' until their open sides are iway from the axis of rotation and the contained separated solids are discharged by centl'it'ugal force, and are caught in a suitable receptacle as described in Fig. 1; valve 80 continues its motion until the supply of liquid to pipe 87 is cut ofi' and liquid in cylinder 62 passes out by the leakage holes 74. Valve 80 continues to move until it connects with port 84 and operating liquid then passes by pipe 88 to the center pipe 107 in spindle 9 and down said pipe to the cored ports 73 in the cylinder 62. and is carried to the other-'side of the partitions 71 and presses on the other side of the pistons 66 and moves them back again into their original position together with the vessels A', B', C and D. Valve 80 continues to move untilcommunication with port 84 is cut off and until communication with port 81 is again made, the liquid in cylinder 62 passes out by leakage holes 75, operating liquid is admitted under piston 94 valve 79 is lifted and materials to be separated are again admitted to the separatipg vessels and the process proceeds over again as before described and is repeated in continuous ordered succession, the time and duration of the various steps being determined by the speed of rotation of the valve 80 and the position and length of the ports 81, 82, 83 and 84. Y

In chemical processes where more than one Washing treatment is required additional pipes and valves similar to .pipes 86 and 102 and valves 101 and 103 may be used, and where no washing treatment is required said pipes 86 and 102 and valves 101 and 103 may be omitted. When washing treatment V is required the filters 97 are preferably extended only partially around the peripheral Wall of the separating vessels as shown. in vessels A and B', Fig. 5, and when washing treatment is not required the iilters 97v are preferably extended around the entire peripheral wall as shown on vessel C of said figure.

It will be readily understood that imperforate vessels may be used with the apparatus described and the process be one of decantation instead of filtration, also that the electric timing device shown inconnection with Fig. 1 and the hydraulic timing device shown in connection with Fig. 4 may be interchanged and that the center pipe system of Fig. 4 may be used with the machine shown in Fig. 1 and other interchanges will readily suggest themselves.

I prefer to use the pressure induced in the operating fluid by centrifugal force to operate the machines described, but by using suitable stuffing boxes and packings to prevent leakage of operating liquid as shown in my application,Serial No. 833,641, the pressure in said liquid from external sources may be utilized to assist the centrifugal pressure, or where said external pressure is suliciently great the -operating cylinders and pistons may be so relatively small that the centrifugal pressure becomes relatively unimportant, and in such cases we may use a gas under pressure, such as compressed air instead of a liquid.

Now having described my invention, I claim: I

1. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a separating vessel'revoluble about an axis and open on the side normally nearest said axis, and means to turn said. vessel so that its open side is remote from said axis to permit the separated solids to be discharged from said vessel by centrifugal force.

2. In a centrifugalseparator, the combination of a plurality of .separating vessels revoluble about a general axis and open on their sides normally nearest said axis, and means to turn said vessels so that their open sides are remote from said axis to permit the separated solids to be discharged from said vessels by centrifugal force.

3. In a centrifugal separator having relatively rotatable separating vessels, means to relatively rotate said vessels adapted to be actuated by Huid pressure induced by the rotation of the machine.

4. In a centrifugal machine, a plurality of separating vessels revoluble about a general axis, and each of said vessels having an individual axis, and means to rotate said vessels about their individual axes, adapted to' be actuated by 4centrifugal pressure induced in a Huid by the rotation of the machine.

5. In a centrifugal separator a plurality of separating vessels revoluble about a general axis and open on their sides normally nearest said axis and means adapted to be operated by fluid pressure to turn said open sides away from said axis and permit the discharge of the separated solids by centrifugal force. y

6. In a centrifugal machine a plurality of separating vessels revoluble about a general axis and open on their sides normally nearest said axis, and means operated by the pressure induced in a fluid by the rotation of the machine, to turn said open sides away from said axis and permit the discharge of the separated solidsby centrifugal force. v

7. The combination in acentrifugal machine of a rotary separating vessel having an axis non-coincident with the axis of rotation of the machine, and means to turn said vessel about saidnon-coincident axis adapted to be actuated by centrifugal pressure induced in a liquid by the rotary motion of said machine.

8. The combination in a centrifugal machine of a pluralitv of separating vessels having axes non-coincident with the axis of rotation, and means to turn said vessels about said non-coincident axes adapted to be actuated by centrifugal pressure induced in a liquid by the rotary motion of said machine. s

9. In a centrifugal' machine the combination of a plurality of separating vessels and lmeans adapted to be operated by iuid pressure to maintain said vessels in normal position against the effort of centrifugal force during separation and to change the position of said vessels and discharge their contents after separation.

10. The combination in a centrifugal machine of a separating vessel, means to maintain said vessel in normal position against the effort of centrifugal force during separation and to change the position of said vessel after separation, said means being ada ptcd to be actuated by pressure of a fluid, valves to control said fluid, and devices for governing the times of opening and closing sain valves.

11. The combination in a centrifugal niarhine of' a plurality of separating vessels, means to maintain said vessels in normal position against the effort of centrifugal l'ort-e during separation and to discharge lsaid vessels after separation, and-devices for vontrolling the duration of said separation and time of' discharge.

12. The combination in a centrifugal inaehine of a pluralit)v of separating vessels, means to maintain said vessels in normal position against the effort of centrifugal force during' separation, means to discharge the solids from said vessels after separation, and devices for controlling the duration ofl said separation and time of said discharge.

13. The combination ina centrifugal maihine ofl relatively rotatable parts, and

means operatively connected with said parts adapted to be actuated by centrifugal pressure induced in a liquid by the rotary motion of said machine.

1l. In a centrifugal separator a separating vessel revoluble about an axis and having an opening in the side normally nearest said axis, and means to turn said opening avvay from said axis and permit the lseparated solids to be discharged. from said vessel by centrifugal force.

15. In a centrifugal separator a plurality of separating vessels revoluble about a gen eral axis and having openings in their sides normally nearest said axis7 and means to turn said openings avvay from said axis and permit the separated solids to be discharged from said vessels by centrifugal force.

Signed at- New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 15th day of April, A. D. 1915.

THOMAS E. BROWN.

Witnesses lVILLiAM PATTERSON, VALTER N. HARRIS. 

